Penholder



PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

J.ENGEL.

PBNHOLDER. I

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

W/TNESSES W wM A TTORN E Yd? Patented September 20, 1904.

JACOB ENGEL, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

PENHOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,716, dated September 20, 1904.

Application filed April 28, 1904.

To a whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB ENGEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Penholders,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in penholders.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of penholder in which the forefinger of the user will be supported and fatigue and cramp prevented.

A further object of my invention is to provide a form of penholder which may be firmly grasped and held with less muscular effort than is required to hold the ordinary pen.

In the-following description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my invention with dotted lines indicating the position of the fingerand thumb of the user. Fig. 2 is a sectional view drawn on line as m of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view drawn on line g of Fig. 1.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

My improved penholder is provided with an ordinary handle A, having a pen-engaging ferrule B at its lower end, by means of which the pen C is supported. The upper side of the penholder at its lower end is provided with a finger-rest D, the upper surface of which conforms to the shape of the finger when holding the pen. The lower end of the rest to wit, the part nearest the pen-has its upper surface flattened, as best shown at d in Fig. 3, and the extremity of the rest at this end is preferably curved upwardly, as shown at d. The thickness of the rest is preferably substantial] y that of the ferrule, with inwardly-curving channels, as indicated at I), the ferrule and rest being preferably formed of a single piece of metal which is pressed inwardly to form the channels Z),whereby the handle A is firmly engaged by the ferrule.

It will be observed that the rest D is highest at its rear end near the second joint of the finger and is made to taper forwardly and inwardly toward the ferrule to a point near the Serial No. 205,310. (No model.)

front end, where it is but slightly raised from the upper side of the ferrule. Great importance is attached to this feature of my invention, for the thumb and finger of the writer with this device are but little more widely separated than when using an ordinary penholder, the principal advantage secured by my device being in the provision of an elongated loearing for the forefinger in its natural position.

If desired, the ferrule may be adapted to receive the pen either in line with the rest-or partially at one side thereof, the position of the pen depending on the habit of the user, as some writers dis pose the forefinger directly over the back or upper side of the penholder, while others grasp the penholder with the forefinger partially at the side of the holder. In either case the pen is so adjusted that the rest will project against the under surface of the finger, preferably supporting the finger to a point back of the first joint.

In the drawings I have shown a rest formed integrally out of sheet metal. If desired, however, the rest may be separately formed or may be a part of the body of the penholder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A penholder comprising an ordinary handle provided near its lower end with a shoulder projecting outwardly from the handle and conforming in shape substantially to the finger of the user; the rear end of said rest being arranged to project abruptly outwardly from the upper surface of the penholder near its lower end to a point between the first and second joints of the forefinger when in its natural position, and tapering therefrom downwardly and inwardly toward the pen.

2. In a penholder, the combination with a handle, of a rest for the forefinger, comprising a shoulder projecting outwardly from the handle and tapering downwardly and inwardly toward the lower extremity of the handle to a substantially flat portion in close proximity to the handle near its extremity; the lower extremity of said rest being provided with a lip extending outwardly beyond said fiat portion.

3. In a penholder, the combination with a surface of the forefinger of the user, when handle, of a pen-engaging ferrule, said fersuch forefinger is in its natural position. I rule having-an integral outwardly-projecting In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in shoulder on its upper side, partially separated the presence of two witnesses.

5 from the ferrule by channels 6 and tapered JACOB ENGEL.

downwardly and inwardly toward the lower Witnesses: extremity of the ferrule and having its upper LEVERETT C. WHEELER,

surface conforming in contour to the under J AS. B. ERWIN. 

